Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, are suffering severe consequences due to forced conscription by Myanmar’s Arakan Army (AA), a militant Buddhist group engaged in conflict with the military regime in Rakhine State.
Abdul Kayes, a 27-year-old Rohingya, recounted his traumatic experience of abduction in April 2024 to ABC. While preparing for morning prayers, Kayes and nine other men from his village were forcibly taken by armed AA members to a training camp, where they were forced to assemble firearms and engage in pro-war activities.
The civil war in Myanmar, which erupted after the February 2021 military coup, has led to widespread violence and resistance. The Arakan Army, which has seized significant territory from the military, began recruiting Rohingya in northern Rakhine in early 2023, reportedly as a response to the Myanmar military’s conscription of Rohingya to fight against the rebels.
The Rohingya crisis has been exacerbated by ongoing violence and displacement. On August 5 and 6, over 100 Rohingya, including women and children, were killed in drone strikes and shelling as they tried to flee to Bangladesh. Eyewitnesses report that AA soldiers targeted civilians attempting to escape, worsening the already dire humanitarian situation.
Almaas Khatun and her daughter, Nur Jahan, endured a harrowing escape from Myanmar. During their attempt, Nur Jahan was shot, and the family faced significant challenges crossing the Naf River into Bangladesh with the help of a smuggler. Khatun’s requests for medical assistance were initially refused by a Myanmar military base, and only after paying a bribe were they able to secure treatment in Bangladesh. Nur Jahan now requires lifelong medical care, including an urostomy and a colostomy bag.
The refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, which house over a million Rohingya who have fled Myanmar, remain overcrowded and lack adequate resources. Families are often separated, and access to basic necessities is severely limited.
